Historical and Contemporary Studies of Adulthood and Aging

In this chapter, the authors approach a discussion of adulthood and aging contextualized in human development and family science scholarship over time, noting a shift toward a more significant consideration of development in adulthood starting in 1950. The authors discuss related contemporary work by highlighting prominent theories in studying adulthood and aging to understand their role in fathoming recent demographic realities and community priorities, mainly associated with human development and family science. The authors also reflect on the part intersectionality and critical theories have played in facilitating the understanding diverse experiences of adulthood and aging across contexts.